Every tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, heat wave, record, earthquake, eruption, tsunami, wildfire and geomagnetic storm on record for May 22, in any year, each linked to its full record.
Every event with a place, colored by kind. Tap one to open its record.
By deaths, damage and strength together, across every archive.
Tornadoes
An EF5 tornado touched down in Newton, Jasper counties, Missouri and tracked 21.62 miles, 1,600 yards wide at its widest, killing 158 and injuring 1,150.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Gansu Province, China. It killed 40,912 people, injured 524, destroyed 26,674 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Taiwan Strait, with a maximum water height of 10 meters. It killed 40,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 9.5 earthquake struck Puerto Montt, Valdivia, Chile. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 2,226 people, injured 3,000, destroyed 58,622 houses and did $1 billion in damage.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 9.5 earthquake struck Southern Chile, with a maximum water height of 25 meters. It killed 2,226 people, injured 3,000, destroyed 58,622 houses and did $1 billion in damage.
Earthquakes
An earthquake struck Tainan, Taiwan. It killed 40,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
The 1766 Istanbul earthquake was a strong earthquake with epicenter in the eastern part of the Sea of Marmara, in the Çınarcık Basin which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, 22 May 1766. 1 on the surface-wave magnitude scale, and caused effects in a vast area extending from Izmit to Rodosto.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Billion-dollar disasters
A severe storm disaster that cost $13 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 177, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 22, 2011 to May 27, 2011.
Tornadoes
A strong upper level trough across the central plains region and a strong upper level disturbance along with a frontal boundary in the area produced numerous severe storms with a few supercells across southeast Kansas.
Earthquakes
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Turkey. It killed 4,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage. It caused a tsunami.
Tsunamis
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Marmara Sea, Turkey. It killed 4,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
Tornadoes
An F5 tornado touched down in McPherson County, Nebraska and tracked 22.2 miles, 1,200 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Tryon, NE.
139 on May 22, oldest first.
An unrated tornado touched down in Cook County, Illinois and tracked 0.9 miles, killing 3 and injuring 6. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Norwood Park, IL.
S. state of Illinois.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F4 tornado touched down in Keokuk, Washington, Louisa counties, Iowa and tracked 41.7 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 30. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Haysville/Lancaster/West Chester/Clear Creek Twp./Keota/Jackson Twp./N Washington, IA.
An F4 tornado touched down in Neosho County, Kansas and tracked 6.1 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 7 and injuring 20. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Jacksonville/S St. Paul, KS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Warren, Fulton counties, Illinois and tracked 18.7 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 28. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SSW Roseville/Swan Twp./Greenbush Twp./Youngstown/N Prairie City/Union Twp./Lee Twp., IL.
An F5 tornado touched down in Lafayette, Iowa counties, Wisconsin and tracked 15 miles, 1,200 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Darlington to Moscow, WI.
An F4 tornado touched down in Clay, Riley counties, Kansas and tracked 25.2 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Talmage to NE Manchester, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Ford, Hodgeman, Edwards counties, Kansas and tracked 13.1 miles, killing 1 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Kingsley, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Ford County, Kansas and tracked 14.7 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Bellefont, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Greenwood County, Kansas and tracked 17.7 miles, injuring 17. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Eureka, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Ford County, Kansas and tracked 19.9 miles. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Dodge City, KS.
An F1 tornado touched down in Tillman County, Oklahoma, killing 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Frederick, OK.
An F2 tornado touched down in Jefferson County, Alabama and tracked 1.5 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: SW Birmingham, AL.
An F4 tornado touched down in Steele, Rice counties, Minnesota and tracked 24.9 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest, injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Clinton Falls, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Rice, Dakota counties, Minnesota and tracked 10.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: W Dundas/Castle Rock, MN.
An F3 tornado touched down in Goodhue County, Minnesota and tracked 5.7 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Goodhue/Red Wing, MN.
An F4 tornado touched down in Harper, Woodward, Woods counties, Oklahoma and tracked 10.3 miles, 1,500 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 9. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: S Salt Springs to E Edith, OK.
An F3 tornado touched down in Kiowa County, Kansas and tracked 8.7 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Greensburg, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Woods, Barber counties, Oklahoma and tracked 28.7 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Freedom/Farry, OK/W Hardtner, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Sumner County, Kansas, injuring 4. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Conway Springs, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Barber County, Kansas. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: NW Hazelton, KS.
An F5 tornado touched down in McPherson County, Nebraska and tracked 22.2 miles, 1,200 yards wide at its widest, killing 8 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Tryon, NE.
An F4 tornado touched down in Texas, Seward counties, Oklahoma and tracked 9.4 miles, 600 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 150. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: OK to Liberal, KS.
An F4 tornado touched down in Hettinger, Grant counties, North Dakota and tracked 25.4 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 8. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: New Leipzig, ND.
An F3 tornado touched down in Finney, Scott counties, Kansas and tracked 21 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: E Holcomb to E Friend, KS.
An F3 tornado touched down in Lincoln County, Nebraska and tracked 18.2 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, injuring 15. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Dickens/E Hershey, NE.
An F4 tornado touched down in Stephens, Young counties, Texas and tracked 25 miles, 250 yards wide at its widest, killing 4 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Ivan, TX.
An F3 tornado touched down in Yell, Pope, Conway counties, Arkansas and tracked 22.8 miles, 300 yards wide at its widest, killing 2 and injuring 10. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: Carden Bottoms/SE Atkins to Birdtown, AR.
An F2 tornado touched down in Oglala Lakota County, South Dakota and tracked 0.5 miles, 50 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1. From Grazulis's record of significant tornadoes: N Pine Ridge, SD.
An F4 tornado touched down in Douglas, Leavenworth, Johnson counties, Kansas and tracked 26.9 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest, injuring 3.
An F3 tornado touched down in Hill County, Texas and tracked 4.1 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4.
An F2 tornado touched down in Johnson County, Iowa and tracked 4.1 miles, 800 yards wide at its widest, killing 1.
An F3 tornado touched down in Greer County, Oklahoma and tracked 9.5 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest.
An F4 tornado touched down in Caddo, Canadian counties, Oklahoma and tracked 16.7 miles, 1,333 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Custer County, Oklahoma and tracked 10.3 miles, 267 yards wide at its widest, injuring 12.
On May 22, 1981, severe thunderstorms produced several large tornadoes across central Oklahoma. The most noteworthy tornado formed one mile west of Binger, in Caddo County, and moved through northern parts of the town, producing extensive damage. The tornado made projectiles out of the objects in its path, including refrigerators, cars, trucks, and even utility poles. The good news is that there were no injuries or deaths, as those persons in the path had underground shelters.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
An F3 tornado touched down in Nottoway, Dinwiddie counties, Virginia and tracked 3.5 miles, 37 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Carroll, Frederick counties, Maryland and tracked 2 miles, 37 yards wide at its widest.
An F3 tornado touched down in Forsyth County, North Carolina and tracked 3.5 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
An F4 tornado touched down in Reeves County, Texas and tracked 3 miles, 1,000 yards wide at its widest, killing 30 and injuring 121.
The 1987 Saragosa tornado was a deadly tornado that hit the community of Saragosa in Reeves County, Texas, on May 22, 1987. The tornado destroyed much of the town, killing at least 30 people and injuring over 100 others.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
An F2 tornado touched down in Giles County, Tennessee and tracked 9 miles, 100 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 2.
Brief tornado over open country moving southeast.
Three-quarters inch hail also reported 4 SW Monument at 1219 CST.
A significant severe weather day with five tornadoes and hail up to softball-size. Damage in Pampa was estimate at over $200,000. The majority of the remaining damage occurred to automobile along highway corridors.
Very severe thunderstorms rolled southeast across north-central Kansas spawning a tornado and causing extensive crop damage. The tornado was reported southeast of Osborne and passed directly over at least one farm.
Thunderstorms that produced wind gusts in excess of 55 MPH, large hail, heavy downpours, frequent lightning, and isolated tornadoes crossed the area during the afternoon and early evening hours of the 22nd.
An F4 tornado touched down in Jefferson, Saline, Gage counties, Nebraska and tracked 54 miles, 4,400 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 38.
This long tracked tornado is often referred to as the Hallam tornado. It initially touched down 3 miles west of Daykin in northern Jefferson county. The tornado was rated an f0 or f1 in Jefferson county damaging farm outbuildings, grain bins and trees.
65 tornadoes were recorded on May 22, 2004, in Michigan, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, 1 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 1 people.
One of the worst severe weather outbreaks in recent years struck south-central Nebraska the afternoon and evening of May 22. No less than 17 different tornadoes rolled across south-central Nebraska. Dozens of homes were damaged and a few completely destroyed.
The synoptic situation was very similar to what it was the previous day. A complex weather situation was in place due to the convection from the previous night. An outflow boundary extended east to west across northern Missouri.
S. state of Nebraska.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Large tree limbs were broken and numerous business signs were damaged.
A tornado touched down briefly at a farm and damaged a barn.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Weld, Larimer counties, Colorado and tracked 38.69 miles, 1,760 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 78.
A powerful tornado swept north-northwestward across Weld County, carving a path of destruction, nearly 39 miles in length. The tornado, up to one-mile wide at times, initially touched down northeast of Platteville and finally lifted 6 miles west-northwest of Wellington.
An anonymously strong upper level system allowed everything to come together at the surface to produced what is perhaps the biggest tornado outbreak to ever occur in the Dodge City CWA! Fifty-five tornadoes were documented during that afternoon and evening! Some of the tornadoes…
28 tornadoes were recorded on May 22, 2008, in Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, Nebraska, California. They killed 1 people.
A series of intense supercell thunderstorms moved north across the area during the afternoon and early evening hours. Long-track tornadoes, flash flooding, large hail and damaging winds were reported across much of northwest Kansas into extreme southern Nebraska.
A thunderstorm developed near Redlands around 3:30 PM and quickly became severe as it moved south-southwest toward Moreno Valley along the Elsinore Convergence Zone. This storm produced large swaths of hail, flash flooding, and at least four tornadoes.
Severe thunderstorms moved generally north northwest over parts of far southeast Wyoming producing a few tornadoes as well as hail and some flooding. The most significant tornado tracked across southeastern Albany county into northern and eastern parts of the city of Laramie.
Southern Nebraska was on the fringe of the major tornado event in NW Kansas on this day. One long-track tornado moved across most of Decatur county Kansas before entering Red Willow county and producing damage. An isolated hail report was also received.
An EF4 tornado touched down in Walworth, Edmunds counties, South Dakota and tracked 5.7 miles, 1,200 yards wide at its widest.
Several supercell thunderstorms developed along a very strong warm front and produced nine tornadoes from Akaska to Bowdle to Hecla. The largest of the tornadoes was an EF4 tornado which occurred near Bowdle. This tornado produced devastating damage in the Bowdle area.
Thunderstorms developed along a semi-stationary front that stretched north to south across the Central Plains. By late evening, the front extended south near Highway 83 in northeast Cherry County.
Large hail and strong wind gusts accompanied a severe thunderstorm over southern Todd and Tripp Counties. A tornado crossed the town of Winner, causing minor damage in town and destroying two barns east of town.
An EF5 tornado touched down in Newton, Jasper counties, Missouri and tracked 21.62 miles, 1,600 yards wide at its widest, killing 158 and injuring 1,150.
A strong upper level trough across the central plains region and a strong upper level disturbance along with a frontal boundary in the area produced numerous severe storms with a few supercells across southeast Kansas.
The Joplin tornado was an extremely devastating EF5 tornado that struck the city of Joplin, Missouri during the early evening hours of May 22, 2011, causing catastrophic damage to Joplin and surrounding regions. m.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
48 tornadoes were recorded on May 22, 2011, in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Texas, Illinois and more, 1 of them rated violent (F4 or EF4 and above). They killed 159 people.
During the early afternoon of Sunday May 22nd, a line of thunderstorms developed across south central Minnesota, and quickly moved north and northeast across east-central Minnesota, and into west-central Wisconsin.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Delaware, McDonald counties, Oklahoma and tracked 17.93 miles, 1,550 yards wide at its widest, injuring 4.
An EF1 tornado touched down in Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka counties, Minnesota and tracked 13.57 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 48.
During the afternoon of May 22nd, severe thunderstorms developed along a cold front as it moved through western Wisconsin. These severe thunderstorms produced three confirmed tornadoes, two of which were rated as EF2 with the other being an EF1.
A very moist and very unstable air mass developed across eastern Oklahoma on the afternoon and evening of the 22nd as a dry line moved into the area from the west.
Severe thunderstorms produced high winds, large hail, and a tornado across central and northeast Wisconsin on May 22, 2011. Unstable air combined with a surface boundary and an upper air disturbance to produce thunderstorms.
Severe thunderstorms moved across many areas of northern Illinois during the afternoon and evening hours of May 22nd.
During the afternoon of May 22nd, severe thunderstorms developed along a cold front as it moved through northeast Iowa. These severe thunderstorms produced three confirmed tornadoes. The first tornado occurred in Howard County and was rated an EF2.
A low pressure system over Minnesota pushed a cold front through eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois during the afternoon and night of May 22, sparking some showers and thunderstorms across the region.
A deep 500 mb low and associated surface low pressure tracked from eastern South Dakota into central Minnesota, lifting a warm front into Wisconsin during the early afternoon of May 22nd.
During the afternoon of May 22nd, severe thunderstorms developed along a cold front as it moved through southeast Minnesota. These severe thunderstorms produced two confirmed tornadoes, both of which were rated as EF2.
A cold front helped to generate severe thunderstorms, across portions of Missouri, mainly along the Interstate 70 corridor, in the afternoon hours of May 22, 2011. There were several reports of tornadoes, along with reports of hail and damaging wind.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Schenectady, Albany counties, New York and tracked 6.79 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest.
Scattered severe thunderstorms in advance of a cold front produced damaging winds, large hail, and three tornadoes across portions of central and eastern Virginia.
A very strong cold front and strong winds above the ground helped produce supercell type thunderstorms across Delaware during the second half of the afternoon on the 22nd. One confirmed tornado, large and destructive hail and pockets of wind damage occurred throughout the state.
A potent shortwave trough was moving from the eastern Great Lakes towards upstate New York during the afternoon on Thursday, May 22nd.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Howard County, Texas and tracked 4.01 miles, 500 yards wide at its widest.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Glasscock County, Texas and tracked 3.71 miles, 200 yards wide at its widest.
The first in a multi-day event produced widespread large hail, tornadoes, and flash flooding but the largest impacts were felt in the extreme southeastern Texas Panhandle.
26 tornadoes were recorded on May 22, 2016, in Washington, Texas, South Dakota, Kansas, North Dakota.
West Texas was under the backside of a ridge with a dryline across the area which provided lift. Good instability, moisture convergence, and high convective available potential energy was present along and to the east of the dryline.
A cluster of severe thunderstorms tracked slowly northeastward from Nebraska across south central South Dakota during the late afternoon and evening. Large hail and strong wind gusts were reported across Todd and southern Tripp Counties.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Jasper, Barton counties, Missouri and tracked 11.29 miles, 880 yards wide at its widest, killing 3 and injuring 1.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Miller, Cole, Callaway counties, Missouri and tracked 32.68 miles, 1,500 yards wide at its widest, injuring 33.
35 tornadoes were recorded on May 22, 2019, in Iowa, Nevada, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois. They killed 4 people.
A persistent pattern set up over the Mid Mississippi River Valley during May 21-23. Upper level winds were consistently southwesterly, providing large scale lift and moisture to the area.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Cherokee, Jasper counties, Kansas and tracked 9.22 miles, 440 yards wide at its widest.
An EF2 tornado touched down in Adair, Guthrie counties, Iowa and tracked 4.75 miles, 150 yards wide at its widest, killing 1 and injuring 1.
Thunderstorms moved northeast into Iowa overnight. While overall instability was around 500 J/KG, the 0-3km MLCAPE was over 125 J/KG across southwest Iowa accounting for around a third of the overall updraft strength. Effective helicity values were nearly 500 m2/s2.
Severe thunderstorms developed over northeastern Oklahoma during the afternoon hours of the 22nd, ahead of a cold front that moved into the area.
A line of thunderstorms moved into the southern Piedmont of North Carolina from upstate South Carolina during the afternoon. Multiple reports of locally damaging wind gusts were received, and a weak tornado developed across southern Gaston County.
May 22nd - 24th, 2020 was an active few days with two main time frames of severe weather, and scattered severe weather reports punctuated elsewhere within these few days.
An EF3 tornado touched down in Sterling County, Texas and tracked 4.79 miles, 400 yards wide at its widest.
Two primary rounds of severe convection occurred on the 23rd, with the first during the initial hours of the morning and the second during the early into late evening.
Scattered thunderstorms occurred ahead of a frontal boundary on May 22-25. However, on May 25, a mesoscale convective system developed west of the area and enhanced the low level wind field. This resulted in two tornadoes across the tri-state area.
17 on May 22, oldest first.
Summary of events for May 22 1999:A slow-moving cold front kicked off clusters of severe thunderstorms on the afternoon and evening of May 22.
Rains of 1 to 2 inches were widespread. The most significant flooding on this date, in terms of damage, was in southern Kanawha County. The Kanawha River crested, the second time this month, around 22.5 feet at Charleston, on the 23rd.
A trained spotter and cooperative observer for the National Weather Service reported that extensive flooding of roads was occurring across the county. The observer had recorded nearly five inches of rain in about three hours.
May 2004 began rather dry with an average of only 0.19 inches of rain over the first week of the month. However, the second week of May brought seasonally normal rainfall. Heavy rain occurred during the third week of the month. May's greatest rain events came back to back.
Heavy rains fell on much of Erie County as yet another band of thunderstorms moved through the area just after daybreak. Between one and two inches of rain fell between daybreak and 9 a.m.
Major flooding occurred on the Turkey River as a result of rainfall totals of 8 to 10 inches. At Garber, a new all-time flood record was established when the river crested at 32.8 feet on May 23.
At 11 AM EDT, Enon Valley report road flooding; roads in Darlington were flooded by the North Fork of the Little Beaver Creek; Routes 251 and 588 were flooded near Beaver Falls; other roads flooded near Big Beaver.
A large complex of thunderstorms, mainly consisting of very heavy rain and damaging winds, raked through most of southern Wisconsin during the early morning hours. This was round number one for the day.
A large upper level trough located over the western U.S. was ejecting pieces of energy out over the Central Plains. Ahead of this trough at the surface, low pressure developed over eastern Colorado, helping to push a warm front north into the forecast area.
A slow moving upper level trough and low pressure system across the central plains region moving across the Ozarks caused numerous heavy showers and storms that produced heavy rainfall. This lead to additional flooding and flash flooding across the Ozarks.
A slow-moving upper level low pressure system over the Great Basin pulled abundant moisture north and west into New Mexico.
A weak surface low drifted across the North Country and produced slow moving thunderstorms. The thunderstorms produced three-quarter inch hail near Turin and Port Leyden. The storms also dropped very heavy rains radar estimating between eight and nine inches in some locations.
A tropical-like atmosphere and heavy thunderstorms produced extremely heavy rain across far southeast Oklahoma on this day in 2018. A one-hour rainfall total of 3.65 inches was recorded near Broken Bow Lake.
From the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma.
A persistently, active weather pattern, consisting of a deep trough over the western U. S. and ridging along the Gulf Coast and southeastern U. S., set the stage for numerous rounds of rainfall across the Southern Plains from May 18th through the end of the month.
Continued heavy rain and high streamflows led to many rivers going back into flood in late May across central Iowa. Several crests occurred on the Des Moines River at Ottumwa.
Persistent rainfall from a potent, slow moving upper low pressure system led to heavy rain and isolated flooding across south central Nebraska heading into the Memorial Day Holiday weekend.
At the surface, an occluded low moved north-northeastward from near western Lake Superior to northern ON, west of James Bay, during the late morning of the 22nd through the wee hours of the morning of the 23rd.
17 on May 22, oldest first.
Nearly stationary thunderstorms dumped five to seven one-half inches of rain and hail within three hours on the southwest side of Sioux Falls causing major urban flooding and a flash flood on an area creek.
A severe thunderstorm producing large hail ranging in size from 3/4 to 2 inches in diameter rumbled across the northwest and northern portions of the Denver metropolitan area.
Wind gusts to 83 mph blew the roof off off of Duncan Aviation and flipped several aircraft. Water damaged the State Fair Park's grandstand and a large part of the roof blew off. There was extensive powerline and tree damage to much of Lincoln.
Hail caused substantial crop damage in this area as it piled up 3 to 5 inches deep.
Numerous severe thunderstorms, which developed northwest of Grand Island, moved southeast across south-central Nebraska dumping hail, heavy rain and producing strong winds. In most cases, damage was minimal.
Hail up to baseball size fell in Blair and west through south of town. The hail caused extensive damage to cars and at least two large car dealerships were hit with over 4500 cars damaged.
Severe straight-line thunderstorm winds in the range of 80 to 100 mph caused damage along and just west of the Ellicott Highway in eastern El Paso county from State Highway 94 to about 5 miles north of State Highway 94.
Thunderstorms rumbled across south-central Nebraska during the evening hours. These storms produced some hail up to the size of golf balls and a few wind gusts to around 60 mph.
A warm front advancing from Louisiana into Arkansas triggered thunderstorms in central and southern Arkansas on the afternoon and evening of the 22nd.
A large upper level trough located over the western U.S. was ejecting pieces of energy out over the Central Plains. Ahead of this trough at the surface, low pressure developed over eastern Colorado, helping to push a warm front north into the region.
A northward moving warm front across northeast Texas...southwest Arkansas as well as northern Louisiana encountered a very unstable airmass across the region. An upper level disturbance moved northeast from central Texas during the afternoon and evening hours of May 22nd.
A northward moving warm front across northeast Texas...southwest Arkansas as well as northern Louisiana encountered a very unstable airmass across the region. An upper level disturbance moved northeast from central Texas during the afternoon and evening hours of May 22nd.
Strong gradient south winds downed a large tree limb in the Omaha area killing a 7-year-old boy.
A warm front lifted north of New York State during the late morning into the evening hours of Wednesday, May 22nd 2013. This front resulted in a cluster of storms that produced large hail and wind damage.
An upper level disturbance moved east and interacted with a stationary front, producing a mesoscale convective system (MCS) which moved east across the northern Midlands of SC, producing widespread wind damage, with additional scattered severe thunderstorms developing across the…
Scattered to numerous thunderstorms along a warm front lifting north across the state resulted in scattered strong to severe thunderstorms across north and central Georgia during the afternoon and evening hours.
3 on May 22, oldest first.
Ridge of high pressure brought a couple days of warm weather. While air temperatures were warm, river and lake temperatures were still cold, leading to two drownings across the area.
A 4 year old boy died inside a vehicle due to hyperthermia.
During 2026, parts of the United Kingdom were severely affected by a series of record-breaking heatwaves, forming the western extent of a broader sequence of extreme heat events across Western and Central Europe.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
35 on May 22, oldest first.
The Dof 48 Fire started on May 22, 1986, in Florida, and burned 813 acres.
The Granite Creek Fire started on May 22, 1987, in Alaska, and burned 40,821 acres.
The White Water Fire was discovered on May 22, 1994, in New Mexico, and burned 1,000 acres.
The Hwy 33 II Fire was discovered on May 22, 1996, in California, and burned 4,000 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Granite Fire started on May 22, 1997, in California, and burned 1,445 acres.
The Harley Fire was discovered on May 22, 1999, in New Mexico, and burned 2,000 acres.
The Bell West Fire was discovered on May 22, 1999, in California, and burned 377 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Pit Command Fire was discovered on May 22, 2001, in Polk County, Florida, and burned 1,200 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
High gradient winds up to 50 mph whipped blinding dust across interstate 80 just east of the Beaver Crossing interchange west of Lincoln. Visibilities, which were suddenly reduced to zero in the blowing dust, caused a 10-vehicle pileup that killed 2 people and injured 8 others.
The Vinasale Fire was discovered on May 22, 2002, in Alaska, and burned 189,688 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Galatea Creek Fire was discovered on May 22, 2002, in Alaska, and burned 74,511 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Borrego Fire was discovered on May 22, 2002, in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, and burned 12,995 acres; the cause was recorded as arson/incendiarism.
The Schoonover Fire was discovered on May 22, 2002, in Colorado, and burned 4,085 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Unnamed Fire started on May 22, 2002, in Nebraska, and burned 1,098 acres.
The BT-11 Fire was discovered on May 22, 2002, in North Carolina, and burned 925 acres; the cause was recorded as equipment and vehicle use.
The Top Fire was discovered on May 22, 2005, in Pinal County, Arizona, and burned 4,200 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The Skunk Fire was discovered on May 22, 2005, in Arizona, and burned 3,500 acres; the cause was recorded as misuse of fire by a minor.
The Cerro Fire was discovered on May 22, 2006, in Mora County, New Mexico, and burned 5,000 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Meshik River Fire was discovered on May 22, 2006, in Alaska, and burned 1,310 acres; the cause was recorded as recreation and ceremony.
The Hodzana River Fire was discovered on May 22, 2007, in Alaska, and burned 18,050 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Summit Fire was a wildfire that started on May 22, 2008, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, near Corralitos, California, United States. The fire was fully contained on May 27, 2008.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The Summit Fire was discovered on May 22, 2008, in Santa Clara County, California, and burned 4,270 acres.
The Choctaw Fire was discovered on May 22, 2008, in Chaves County, New Mexico, and burned 1,500 acres.
The Beaver Fire was discovered on May 22, 2010, in San Miguel County, Colorado, and burned 2,608 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Kizer 10 Fire was discovered on May 22, 2011, in Roosevelt County, New Mexico, and burned 2,596 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The Tre Fire was discovered on May 22, 2012, in Douglas County, Nevada, and burned 7,153 acres; the cause was recorded as debris and open burning.
The Hurricane Assist 02 Fire was discovered on May 22, 2012, in Washington County, Utah, and burned 2,197 acres; the cause was recorded as power generation/transmission/distribution.
The L 4 Cutout Fire was reported on May 22, 2014, in Palm Beach County, Florida, and burned 10,000 acres.
The Rimrock Fire was reported on May 22, 2014, in Graham County, Arizona, and burned 2,890 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Metz Fire was reported on May 22, 2016, in Monterey County, California, and burned 3,876 acres.
The Kellar Fire was reported on May 22, 2018, in Eddy County, New Mexico, and burned 5,750 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Boggy Creek Fire was reported on May 22, 2021, in Apache County, Arizona, and burned 2,945 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The Wilbur Fire was reported on May 22, 2023, in Coconino County, Arizona, and burned 10,279 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
The WaWa 2 Fire was reported on May 22, 2026, in Highlands County, Florida, and burned 7,121 acres.
The Shell Fire was reported on May 22, 2026, in Lake County, Florida, and burned 2,822 acres; the cause was recorded as natural.
19 on May 22, oldest first.
An earthquake struck Rey (Ray), Iran. It killed many people (about 101 to 1,000) and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kamakura, Japan. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Turkey. It killed 4,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage. It caused a tsunami.
An earthquake struck Tainan, Taiwan. It killed 40,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 7 earthquake struck Mendoza, Argentina.
An earthquake struck Gan,oloron,louvie-Juzon,benejacq,tarbes, France.
An earthquake struck Santa Marta,cartagena, Colombia.
An earthquake struck San Jose DE Iturbide,puebla,veracruz, Mexico.
An earthquake struck Baja California, Mexico.
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Hokkaido, Japan.
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck Gansu Province, China. It killed 40,912 people, injured 524, destroyed 26,674 houses and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck San Luis, Argentina. It did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Colombia. It caused a tsunami.
A magnitude 9.5 earthquake struck Puerto Montt, Valdivia, Chile. With the tsunami it caused, it killed 2,226 people, injured 3,000, destroyed 58,622 houses and did $1 billion in damage.
A magnitude 6.7 earthquake struck Bingol, Turkey. It killed 995 people, injured 9,111 and did $5 million in damage.
A magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck Aiquile, Totora, Central, Bolivia. It killed 105 people, injured 150 and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck Pernik, Bulgaria.
A magnitude 3.2 earthquake struck Groningen, The Netherlands.
A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Crete, Greece. It caused a tsunami.
5 on May 22, oldest first.
Semeru, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 80 people.
Kelud, Indonesia erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed some people (about 51 to 100).
Stromboli, Italy erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 3. It killed 4 people and destroyed 10 houses. The eruption caused a tsunami.
On 22 May 2021, Mount Nyiragongo in the Democratic Republic of the Congo began erupting. As of 25 May, 32 people died as a result of the eruption and 1,000 homes were destroyed.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nyiragongo, Democratic Republic of the Congo erupted with a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 2. It killed 32 people, destroyed 5,000 houses and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage. The eruption was accompanied by an earthquake.
11 on May 22, oldest first.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Kamakura, Sagami Bay, Japan.
The 1766 Istanbul earthquake was a strong earthquake with epicenter in the eastern part of the Sea of Marmara, in the Çınarcık Basin which occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, 22 May 1766. 1 on the surface-wave magnitude scale, and caused effects in a vast area extending from Izmit to Rodosto.
From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck Marmara Sea, Turkey. It killed 4,000 people and did extreme (about $25 million or more) damage.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 7 earthquake struck Taiwan Strait, with a maximum water height of 10 meters. It killed 40,000 people and did severe (about $5 to $25 million) damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as earthquake struck Lake Garda, Italy.
A tsunami struck Carnarvon Bay, Tasmania, Australia, with a maximum water height of 2.4 meters.
A tsunami with a source recorded as volcano struck Stromboli Island, Italy, with a maximum water height of 0.75 meters. It killed 4 people and destroyed 10 houses.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck Colombia, with a maximum water height of 1 meters.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 9.5 earthquake struck Southern Chile, with a maximum water height of 25 meters. It killed 2,226 people, injured 3,000, destroyed 58,622 houses and did $1 billion in damage.
A tsunami with a source recorded as landslide struck Azores, Portugal.
A tsunami caused by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck Island of Crete, Greece, with a maximum water height of 0.05 meters.
8 on May 22, oldest first.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 22, 1939, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 30; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 22, 1940, reached Kp 6- and lasted 6 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 31; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 57 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 22, 1941, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 31; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 22, 1950, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 19; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 22, 1973, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 21; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 22, 1974, reached Kp 5 and lasted 3 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 23; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 60 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G1 (minor) geomagnetic storm began May 22, 1979, reached Kp 5+ and lasted 9 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 36; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 58 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
A G2 (moderate) geomagnetic storm began May 22, 1992, reached Kp 6+ and lasted 18 hours, with a daily Ap as high as 50; at that Kp the aurora may be seen from about 53 degrees geomagnetic latitude.
2 on May 22, oldest first.
A severe storm disaster that cost $4.4 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 13, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 22, 2008 to May 27, 2008.
A severe storm disaster that cost $13 billion in 2024 dollars and killed 177, on NOAA’s billion-dollar list. It lasted from May 22, 2011 to May 27, 2011.
8 on May 22, oldest first.
A 17-year-old female was drowned in a rip current at Wiggins Pass State Recreation Area. A 32-year-old female companion nearly drowned and was hospitalized in critical condition.
Strong rip currents and rough surf impacted the Brevard County beaches for over a week. A man who was in waist deep water at Cocoa Beach Pier was pulled out to sea by the strong rip currents and drowned.
A 19 year old swimmer walked to the end of the pier and jumped into the water where increasingly higher waves were observed. A combination of the strong current along the pier, increasing waves and 60 degree water all combined to cause problems for the novice swimmer.
A young girl playing on the beach was swept into deep water likely by a rip current and drowned.
A high rip current risk was expected on Friday May 22nd as long period east to southeast swells continued the day after a high surf event, along with onshore flow of around 10 kt.
Persistent easterly winds combined with elevated surf over the weekend created a High Rip Current risk along local NE FL beaches and resulted in numerous ocean rescues.
East to southeast ocean swells of 4 to 6 ft likely resulted in rough surf and a high risk of rip currents Saturday Night into Sunday ahead of an approaching cold front. NWS New York, NY Surf Zone Forecast program begin until 5/27.
Lightning struck and killed a 24 year-old man while he was working on a roof in Volusia County, causing him to fall off of the roof.
Gathered from this site’s archives: the tornado record (NOAA SPC, and Grazulis before 1950), IBTrACS and the National Hurricane Center, NOAA NCEI’s Storm Events Database, Regional Snowfall Index, billion-dollar disasters list, State Climate Extremes Committee and hazard databases, USGS, NIFC, GFZ Potsdam’s Kp index (CC BY 4.0), the National Weather Service in Norman, Oklahoma, and Wikidata (CC0), with article leads from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0, each credited where it appears. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.